Former Party Heavyweight Calls Wife's Testimony in His Trial 'Ridiculous and Laughable'

JINAN, China—The first day of Bo Xilai's trial, which had been expected to be highly scripted, offered a series of big surprises: As the former political highflier vehemently lashed back at charges he took bribes, authorities allowed millions a play-by-play account of one of the most sensitive trials in China's history via the Chinese version of Twitter.

Mr. Bo, appearing in public for the first time since March 2012, struck a defiant tone, saying an earlier confession was coerced and describing written evidence from his...